My trip through Montana started up at the Canadian border post of Rooseville (Highway 93). I headed back towards the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park and then through the plains and prairies to Great Falls on the Missouri river. I continued south towards Yellowstone National Park along Highway 89.
Date
Distance
Altitude gain
Place
02.08.05
124 km
0760 m
Loon Lake - Columbia Falls
03.08.05
061 km
0455 m
Columbia Falls - Avalanche Creek
04.08.05
086 km
1730 m
Avalanche Creek - Cut Bank river
05.08.05
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Day of hiking in Glacier Nat. Park
06.08.05
101 km
0735 m
Cut Bank river - Dupuyer
07.08.05
146 km
0660 m
Dupuyer - Great Falls
08.08.05
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Rest day
09.08.05
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Rest day
10.08.05
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Rest day
11.08.05
101 km
1245 m
Great Falls - Many Pines
12.08.05
061 km
0545 m
Many Pines - White Sulphur Springs
13.08.05
132 km
0415 m
White S. Springs - Livingston
14.08.05
052 km
0355 m
Livingston - Dailey Lake Rd.
15.08.05
075 km
0865 m
Dailey Lake Rd. - Mammoth Hot Springs
I entered into Montana (USA) on the 02.08.05. Everything went fine at the Rooseville border crossing and I got permission to stay in the USA for up to 6 Months! My US journey started on a very hot day (which would last all the way to Great Falls - above 30 degrees C every day). My first stop was in the beautiful western style town of Whitefish where I ended up sitting in a bar for a couple of beers before cycling the last 10km down to Columbia Falls later on that evening.
The following day I entered the beautiful Glacier National Park. Due to all the traffic, cyclists are not permitted to cycle up the pass between 11am and 4pm. This suited me just fine. I pitched my tent at the campsite below the pass and set off early the next morning while it was stilldark. I got to the top just as the sun came over the pass. It was a long 27 km uphill (similar to the alpine passes of Switzerland, a pure enjoyment)! And the view...wow!!!...and the downhill....Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
left: From here I enjoyed a 20km downhill!
I had to stop from time to time to admire the great view and scenery...
.....it was just awesome and breathtaking.
I left the Park, then crossed over a long hill (the Hudson Divide), which I had not taken note of on the map, the day before and so I ended up crossing 2 divide ranges on an extremely hot day. I rode on south and reentered the 'Glacier National Park' at a remote place where I had planned to stay for 2 nights to do a hike up a quiet valley.
left: The remote Cut Bank valley, Bear, Moose and Cougar (mountain lion) country.
The following day I had planned to do a smaller hike (rest day), it however turned out to be a long 26km hike. I joined Slavek (CZ), Monika (CZ) and Ionela (ROM) who are working in the park for the summer on a walk up to 'Medicine Grizzly Lake' where we had a swim. Later on a huge moose also wanted to cool down and came for a swim on the opposite side of the lake.
left: 'Medicine Grizzly Lake' in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, a beautiful place far from mass tourism! There were delicious blueberries which we picked to eat along the shore.
The 4 of us headed up a gully way off the beaten track and then ended up on a rock ledge.
The view along the hike was just great! The others walked up over triple divide pass (I would have loved to go on with them but it was getting late and I had to turn back to my campsite). We departed on an animal trail, they headed north while I headed along a series of rock ledges and then down through thick forest back to the campsite which I reached by 8pm. I was always a bit concerned of a cougar (mountain lion) jumping out of a rock cave...but they are rarely seen. I saw a wonderful eagle swooping 10 metres above my head. It is always good to be out in the wild!
The following day (06.08.05) I cycled on through the heat (35 degrees C) and reached a little town called Dupuyer where I just did not feel like to carry on. It was too hot and I preferred to sit down and eat heaps of the delicious huckleberry icecream which was a great way to cool down my body. I pitched my tent in the village park and then joined some local farmers in the pub for a few beers and to listen to a live band (western) playing.
The next morning (07.08.05) I got up early to cycle the 146km to Great Falls. The heat already got me after 45km at 10 am and so I only stopped twice to fill up with water and head on to 'the place of a 3 day rest - Great falls'. (There were no trees on the way to rest my hot body) I drank 8 litres by the time I got to Great Falls.
I had been ill (stomach problems) in Great Falls and when I left on the 11th August I was still feeling weak because I had not eaten much. Going up Kings pass was a torture for me, still feeling faint and weak after not being able to eat much. Eventually I gave up below the pass and pitched my tent and slept for 12 hours. I did not feel much better the next day and stopped cycling at White Sulphur Springs where I jumped into a hot natural mineral pool and stayed in it for 3 hours. This pool must have helped because I felt much better the next day and I rode on to Livingston.
I met up with 2 very kind and interesting people (John and Ann). John invited me to stay over at a log cabin before I continue on my way into Yellowstone National Park. I could not refuse the great offer. John (retired) lives in Baja California and migrates every year up to Montana to observe the birds migrating from south to north. We spent a whole afternoon canoeing down the Yellowstone river. It was really wonderful. John would always point out the birds and explain to me how they live, what they eat etc etc.
After our canoeing trip we enjoyed a great barbecue with some really good Californian wine before falling asleep in a real bed! The next day I departed the lovely cabin and continued on my journey to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I hope to meet up with John again in Baja California where he lives.
MONTANA
I entered into Montana (USA) on the 02.08.05. Everything went fine at the Rooseville border crossing and I got permission to stay in the USA for up to 6 Months! My US journey started on a very hot day (which would last all the way to Great Falls - above 30 degrees C every day). My first stop was in the beautiful western style town of Whitefish where I ended up sitting in a bar for a couple of beers before cycling the last 10km down to Columbia Falls later on that evening.
The following day I entered the beautiful Glacier National Park. Due to all the traffic, cyclists are not permitted to cycle up the pass between 11am and 4pm. This suited me just fine. I pitched my tent at the campsite below the pass and set off early the next morning while it was stilldark. I got to the top just as the sun came over the pass. It was a long 27 km uphill (similar to the alpine passes of Switzerland, a pure enjoyment)! And the view...wow!!!...and the downhill....Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
left: From here I enjoyed a 20km downhill!
I had to stop from time to time to admire the great view and scenery...
.....it was just awesome and breathtaking.
I left the Park, then crossed over a long hill (the Hudson Divide), which I had not taken note of on the map, the day before and so I ended up crossing 2 divide ranges on an extremely hot day. I rode on south and reentered the 'Glacier National Park' at a remote place where I had planned to stay for 2 nights to do a hike up a quiet valley.
left: The remote Cut Bank valley, Bear, Moose and Cougar (mountain lion) country.
The following day I had planned to do a smaller hike (rest day), it however turned out to be a long 26km hike. I joined Slavek (CZ), Monika (CZ) and Ionela (ROM) who are working in the park for the summer on a walk up to 'Medicine Grizzly Lake' where we had a swim. Later on a huge moose also wanted to cool down and came for a swim on the opposite side of the lake. 
left: 'Medicine Grizzly Lake' in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, a beautiful place far from mass tourism! There were delicious blueberries which we picked to eat along the shore.
The 4 of us headed up a gully way off the beaten track and then ended up on a rock ledge.
The view along the hike was just great! The others walked up over triple divide pass (I would have loved to go on with them but it was getting late and I had to turn back to my campsite). We departed on an animal trail, they headed north while I headed along a series of rock ledges and then down through thick forest back to the campsite which I reached by 8pm. I was always a bit concerned of a cougar (mountain lion) jumping out of a rock cave...but they are rarely seen. I saw a wonderful eagle swooping 10 metres above my head. It is always good to be out in the wild!
The following day (06.08.05) I cycled on through the heat (35 degrees C) and reached a little town called Dupuyer where I just did not feel like to carry on. It was too hot and I preferred to sit down and eat heaps of the delicious huckleberry icecream which was a great way to cool down my body. I pitched my tent in the village park and then joined some local farmers in the pub for a few beers and to listen to a live band (western) playing. 
The next morning (07.08.05) I got up early to cycle the 146km to Great Falls. The heat already got me after 45km at 10 am and so I only stopped twice to fill up with water and head on to 'the place of a 3 day rest - Great falls'. (There were no trees on the way to rest my hot body) I drank 8 litres by the time I got to Great Falls. 
I had been ill (stomach problems) in Great Falls and when I left on the 11th August I was still feeling weak because I had not eaten much. Going up Kings pass was a torture for me, still feeling faint and weak after not being able to eat much. Eventually I gave up below the pass and pitched my tent and slept for 12 hours. I did not feel much better the next day and stopped cycling at White Sulphur Springs where I jumped into a hot natural mineral pool and stayed in it for 3 hours. This pool must have helped because I felt much better the next day and I rode on to Livingston.
I met up with 2 very kind and interesting people (John and Ann). John invited me to stay over at a log cabin before I continue on my way into Yellowstone National Park. I could not refuse the great offer. John (retired) lives in Baja California and migrates every year up to Montana to observe the birds migrating from south to north. We spent a whole afternoon canoeing down the Yellowstone river. It was really wonderful. John would always point out the birds and explain to me how they live, what they eat etc etc.
After our canoeing trip we enjoyed a great barbecue with some really good Californian wine before falling asleep in a real bed! The next day I departed the lovely cabin and continued on my journey to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I hope to meet up with John again in Baja California where he lives.